Choosing to live anywhere in this beautiful, wide world bears both advantages and disadvantages, high and low risks, positive and less positive aspects, and so on. To my mind, one ace up the sleeve of living in Europe is that you get to be super close to many countries, all different and special, all charming and welcoming. Should you travel by car, boat or plane, train or bus, you are still very close to enjoying many different cultures and to trying out new activities and experiences. The downside of being here though is not living in a hut on the beach in a forgotten corner on the world’s map…But we always live in the now, right? We have had some National holidays going on in Romania at the end of November and beginning of December which, in the end, led to 5 days-off from work. I decided one night before my departure to pay a visit to Venice, the insular city, segregated by canals, swung by elegant gondolas slowly curling the water’s surface. Let the spontaneous travel begin! I arrived on Treviso Airport very early in the morning and reached Venice’s metropolitan area one hour later. Instead of taking a boat to the whereabouts of my hotel, of course I was all in for walking by foot. I spent the last mesmerizing autumn day, sunny and cold at the same time, wandering and, to be more precise, getting lost in the small Venetian alleyways. Since it was still a very quiet morning, few people were out in the streets, coffee shops and cafeterias had just started opening their doors to potential customers, so I was happy to witness Venice gently waking up and putting on the energetic garments. As you probably know by now, Italians tend to have breakfast later than everyone else, around 10:00-11:00, and it usually consists of an incredibly tasty coffee and biscuits or sweet pastry (“colazione”). My heels created a small echo as I walked along the large, old pavement plates, somehow announcing Venice that I had arrived. I had seen some pictures of Burano Island (they call it Isola di Burano) in advance, so I was quite eager to get there as soon as possible. Checked-in fast, grabbed the camera (forgot the iPhone charger though…), a book and my sunglasses and off I went. In 10 minutes I was already at Fondamente Nove ferry terminal, waiting for the ferry that would take me to Burano island. I expected to discover an island featuring a multitude of colourful explosions and that is precisely what I came across. Although the houses are not in their best condition, they all bear vivid hues mingling around the canals of Burano. And when you would begin to think the violets are over, the blues have ended, and the yellows are not that bright any longer, it is exactly then when a royal red wall appears right under your eyes, grabbing your entire focus like a carnivore plant luring small preys inside. Coming back to Venice, I decided to stop for a quick lunch, in the streets, and then continued to scroll on my list of “things to do in Venice”. Next stop: Fondaco dei Tedeschi - nowadays a department store and luxury location for social gatherings; its construction started in 1228 (!!!). This old palace is quite impressive, you can feel how the Renaissance style blends in perfectly with more modern architectural currents, creating a breathtaking overall image. Personally, I raised my eyes to the ceiling and stood there, in the middle of the palace, looking up – if you go there, you will understand why I did this. Strolling again on Venetian narrow streets, I went straight to Piazza San Marco. I am not a big fan of museums in general, maybe the ones featuring art may seem appealing to me, but I am a big fan of observing people, what they do, how they behave, how, when and why they laugh, which reactions take the best or worst out of them, and so on. For landscapes and surroundings in general, I focus on what I feel when I am there, I empty my mind and simply state how a certain place makes me feel. It was already too late for visiting the Doge’s Palace, so I admired it from outside and imagined how the Doges used to live centuries ago, what were their responsibilities, how did they conceive their ruling and conquering strategies and how did they manage to cope with everything. Piazza San Marco offers great 360 views of incredible buildings, towers, churches, and mostly crowds of people crawling around. I loved Basilica di San Marco because of its majestic entrance, golden walls and its overall obsolete opulence. Moreover, what truly caught my eye was the Clock Tower, because as soon as I focused my sight towards it, my beloved Moon appeared on the clock’s blue panels, surrounded by all zodiac’s signs. Marvelous, and unforgettable, for me at least! This Piazza is filled with interesting museums for those who are fond of, but instead I chose to have a look at the Grand Canal as seen from Palazzo Ducale. Twilight stretched over the buildings and the water spread sapient orange-red reflections everywhere as the sun slowly descended. I have this permanent postcard from Venice imprinted deep inside my mind and memory. As I have previously mentioned, Venice is a labyrinth worth getting lost in. But a Google maps app is useful, and since I was low on battery after taking so many pictures and orientating everywhere around, I decided to take a short walk back to the hotel. In the evening, I scheduled a dinner date with one of my friends (she is a true Venetian, born and raised here, and on top of that, owns a wonderful personality). Dressed up warmly and started walking towards Campo Santa Margherita. On my way towards the other part of Venice, the more entertaining and fun one, I stopped by at Teatro la Fenice which was recently renovated, and then at Scala Contarini del Bovolo. This Palazzo features an external multi-arch spiral staircase – the Scala – all painted in white. Its location is somehow hidden, in an interior patio, with dim light, creating an enchanting, spellbound sensation. I passed over Ponte dell’Accademia, saw the universities area of Venice and finally arrived to the meeting place. But it was still early. My steps immediately took shelter in a nearby pharmacy (Erboristeria il Melograno), which proved to be paradise for me. All sorts of Italian fragrances gathered on ebony shelves, all sorts of fancy cremes, and body lotions, and nice perfumes…Oh my God, I was praying for something to happen and prevent me from taking the wallet out!! But it did not…So I bought some vanilla and tobacco fragrances (yes, I am now ready to admit that I am a vanilla addict) and met the old lady in charge of the place; adorable as she was, she did not speak any English so I had to take my Italian language skills out from the attic…! I chose to walk back again, and not take the boat. Climbed up Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge), walking past by touristic crowds serving hot drinks on the Grand Canal’s shoreline. I was alone and it felt the correct thing to do, the only valid option at that time. I could hear my steps only, walking lost in the alleyways, thinking about the old lady in the Erboristeria, and about past centuries in the Veneto area. And it felt weird but incredible. The following morning, I desperately wanted to see Venice wake up once more, but this time, from the water. So, I took a boat and sailed up to Marco Polo Airport, by Canal Grande. Boxes everywhere, waiting to be picked up by different boats, people waiting to embark, couriers picking up the mail with smaller boats, fishermen bringing in the catch of the day, more boats or gondolas waiting in line in the smooth water traffic - such a pleasant uproar everywhere, it was a mesmerizing experience, I enjoy noticing people performing their daily routine right under my very eyes. The story about this winter’s beginning spent in Italy does not end here, but I will continue it in probably 2 additional, separate stories: one about Verona and one about Lago di Garda.
I know when a trip is successful from my point of view – it is when my soul connects to the memories of that specific place, when I manage to attentively observe details of everyday life as it is lived in that particular location and time, and when I get accustomed fast to everything surrounding me, when I intuitively walk in a certain direction and feel it is the right one or the right thing to do. And even though my trip to Venice was short, I achieved mostly everything that I wanted. Living full days every day is my recipe for personal success and I recommend myself every single day to never ever waste a second, a minute or an hour of my precious time. As intense as it was, Venice charmed my eyes and mind with its intricate streets and mysterious passages, narrow bridges and dormant old buildings. The colours of houses on Isola di Burano still dance in my dreams at night, and I still startle in my profound sleep when I see my alter-ego behind a faultless white Venetian mask, with black feathers and crystals, smirking incessantly as it wraps itself in a vanilla-scented red veil of artfulness…
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